Gaseous electric discharge lamp device



Dec. 21, 1937. V G GAlDlEs 2,103,073

GASEOUS ELECTRIC DISCHARGE LAMP DEVICE Filed June 18, 1937 INVENTOR geofg. Gaidis H d. J ZZZORNEY Patented Dec. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GASEOUS ELECTRIG DISOHARGE LAMP DEVICE of New York Application June 18, 1937, Serial No. 149,004

Germany, June 24, 1936 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to gaseous'electric discharge lamp devices generally and more particularly the invention relates to such devices of the cathode glow discharge type useful in television apparatus, or the like.

The object of the present invention is to provide a cathode glow discharge lamp which is a bright, sharply defined, eflicient, linear light source. Stillfurther objects and advantages l0 attaching to the device and to its use and operation will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following particular description.

In accordance with this object the cathode glow lamp comprises a tubular container having mounted therein a cathode consisting of a. mesh or net of cylindrical shape which surrounds a rod axially mounted with respect to said cathode which rod has a luminescent material associated therewith. A cylindrical sheet metal anode surrounds the cathode and is likewise axiallymountedtherewith. Said anode has a slit therein along its length through which the light from the cathode glow discharge and the luminescent material passes. The radiation from the cathode 26 glow discharge impinges on the luminescent material which is strongly excited thereby. The luminescent material being applied to a body smaller in diameter than the cathode emits a brighter light than when this material is applied to a body larger in diameter than the cathode, such as the inner surface of the container surrounding the cathode, since the radiantenergy per unit area impinging on the luminescent material is greater. The high brightness of the luminescent material is advantageous for many purposes and particularly for use in television apparatus.

In the drawing accompanying and formingpart of this specification an embodiment of the invention is shown, inwhich,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational, partly sectional view oi the cathode glow and Fig. 2 is a top view along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. numbers denote like parts in both the figures.

Referring to the drawing the cathode glow lamp comprises a tubular container I having a stem 2 fused thereto at one end thereoh Two current leads II and i2 and a support wire II are hermetically sealed into the press part of said stem 2. Said container i is provided with a conventional screw base I. A cylindrical mesh cathode 4 is axially mounted in said container I trodes. sealed therein, being a cylindrical mesh cathode, .a cylindrical,

anode surrounding. said cathode and being surrounded by said thode and is supported by said current lead l2. A cylindrical sheet metal anode 5 of larger diameter than said cathode 4 is mounted on said current lead it and saidsupport wire l3. Said anode 5 has a slit 6 along its length. A glass rod 1 8 of smaller diameter than said cathode 4 is fused to the press of said stem 2 and is mounted axially with respect to said cathode 4, said anode 5 and said container .I. Said rod 1 extends beyond said cathode 4 in both direction and the free 10 end of said rod 1 is thickened at; 9 and a metal cap III, which supports the free end of the anode 5, is mounted on said thickened part 9 of said rod I. The container I has a gaseous atmos-- phere therein, such as a mixture of about 15% 1| nitrogen and about 85% argon, which emits visible and ultra violet light when excited by a cathode glow discharge between said electrodes 4 and 5 and the surface of the rod 1 is coated with a luminiscent material, such as calcium sulphide, 21 which emits visible light under excitation by radiation from said discharge.

The radiation from the cathode glow discharge in the lamp impinges on the entire surface ofthe coated rod I so'that the luminescent ma- 25 terial 8 on said rod 1 is strongly excited and emits -a bright light which passes through the mesh cathode 4 and the slit 6 in the anode 5 and which is useful in conjunction with many devices, particularly television appara While I have shown and described and have pointed out in the annexed claim certain novel features of the invention, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated 35 and in its use and operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the broad spirit and'scope oi the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by 0 Letters Patent 01'. the United States, is:-

A cathode glow lamp comprising a tubular container, a gaseous atmosphere therein, elecone of said electrodes slitted, sheet metal cathode and being axially mounted with respect thereto, a rod extending along the axis of said and a luminescent material on said u material emits visible light under excitatio radiation from the cathode glow discharge between said electrodes.

GEORG GAIDIES. 

